Adobe drops Apple software tools

The firm behind Flash will stop making tools that let iPhone and iPad use its technology following a change in Apple's developer program license.

Apple recently released a new draft of its iPhone developer program license, which put heavy restrictions on the type of software apps that developers can use.

Earlier this month Adobe released Creative Suite 5, which features tools that turn Flash code into programs that run on the iPhone.

Apple devices don’t support Flash and the firm has publically criticised the technology.

Mike Chambers, Adobe's Product Manager For Developer Relations, said that the new draft will affect people using the likes of Unity, Titanium, MonoTouch, and Flash CS5.

“While it appears that Apple may selectively enforce the terms, it is our belief that Apple will enforce those terms as they apply to content created with Flash CS5,” he said. “Developers should be prepared for Apple to remove existing content and applications (100+ on the store today) created with Flash CS5 from the iTunes store.”

Adobe will still be shipping the ability to target the iPhone and iPad in Flash CS5 but the company doesn’t plan on making any additional investments in that feature.

Chambers said that Flash has always been about enabling cross browser, platform and device development.

“The cool web game that you build can easily be targeted and deployed to multiple platforms and devices. However, this is the exact opposite of what Apple wants. They want to tie developers down to their platform, and restrict their options to make it difficult for developers to target other platforms,” he continued.

“We are at the beginning of a significant change in the industry, and I believe that ultimately open platforms will win out over the type of closed, locked down platform that Apple is trying to create.”